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Water Quality and Flow Characteristics of Barton Springs Abby Tomasek. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/ordinances.htm. Barton Springs Pool. Main discharge point for the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer Main aquifer recharge comes from 6 surface streams
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Water Quality and Flow Characteristics of Barton SpringsAbby Tomasek http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/ordinances.htm
Barton Springs Pool • Main discharge point for the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer • Main aquifer recharge comes from 6 surface streams • During dry periods, the flow is dominated by water from the aquifer matrix • During wet periods, flow is dominated by stream discharge • Implications for water quality concerns
Why do we care? • The salamander! • Water quality important for the health and safety of visitors • Aesthetics (for example eutrophication and turbidity) http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/bartonsprings_salamander.htm
Data • Edwards aquifer and surrounding HUC-10 subwatersheds • DEM and hillshade to visualize topography for area • Added main contributing surface waters from NHD flowlines • Determined contributing area and compared to City of Austin data • Land use and population data • USGS NWIS for streamflow and water quality data
Land Use Change from 1990-2008 1990 2008
Summary and Next Steps • Area surrounding Barton Springs has experienced rapid population growth and land use change • Unique flow system of Barton Springs creates sensitivity to change • Obviously cannot stop development, but increased awareness can help preserve health of system • Investigate more nutrient parameters and contaminants (i.e. atrazine and tetrachloroethane) • Expand analysis to entire contributing area